What Time is It?

It’s a pleasure to hear from Vicki Weimer this week. Be sure to take a moment and get to know her a bit more on the contributors page.

To find the time, we look at a clock. To know the season, we look at a calendar. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Recognizing that everything has a time should make us ask ourselves, “What time is it?” 

Solomon went on to name examples of times in verses 2-8.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Instead of a clock, we need to look at the Bible. People who sincerely want to serve God often want to understand His will for their lives, but finding this will can seem daunting, elusive, or even mysterious. Perhaps a simpler way to find God’s will is to consider what time it is now. Is it time to build a bridge or break it down? Is it time to dig in or to get out? Is it time to save or to spend? Is it time to say something or to be quiet? If we ask Him, God will show us in His word what time it is. Knowing the time now helps us take the next step. This principle works both daily and in the long term. Finding God’s will can be as simple as determining what time it is right now.

Again, instead of a calendar, we need to read God’s word. Hard seasons happen. We face adversity or bury a loved one. We tend to ask God, “Why?” because we do not understand what He is doing. Potentially, a more helpful question might be “What time is it?” Because everything has a time, we might just need to recognize that God is not being unfair or unkind. It may simply be time for that uncomfortable season. Thankfully, Solomon reminds us that God has “made every thing beautiful in his time,” in verse 11. Knowing that everything has its own time can help us endure hard seasons when they come.

If you do not know what to do next, or if you are in a difficult season, try asking God, “What time is it?” Then check His clock and calendar that we call the Bible.